by PJ Schnyder
More memories tumbled through her mind now. How he’d stood out, a wolf amongst the soldiers and other men at the quarantine border, even hanging back the way he’d been. And later, in the tunnel, a huge shadow amongst the others. The monsters. She’d thought he was one too initially, only he hadn’t killed her. He’d brought her here instead. Wherever here was.
You could have saved me.
Oh, Tom. Everyone. Gone. And she hadn’t tried for Tom. Couldn’t.
“Here’s water. I put it in a cup with a straw. Makes it easier to sip.” Another man came in, pale skinned with sandy brown hair. “Sure we don’t want to get a line into your vein and hook up an IV, just to help things along?”
She shook her head again. Still not a good idea. She waited for the world to stop spinning.
“Nah. Thanks, Brian.” Danny reached out to take the drink without releasing her. She was oddly relieved he’d backed her up.
“Thank you, though.” She wrapped both her hands around the water and sipped. It slid down her throat, wonderfully cool. Her stomach didn’t cramp or otherwise rebel, so she took another taste. Brian, Brian? The name, the city... “We’ve corresponded, via email.”
The other man laughed and took off his glasses, cleaning them with a handkerchief from his shirt pocket. “Yes. I’d wondered if your team would reach out to me before you went into the park.”
They should have. Oh, they should have done a lot of things, like paid real attention to the alpha’s warnings. “Tom and the others wanted to find a site and get set up right away. Wanted to take advantage of the first night to capture specimens. We’d all figured we could touch base with you in the morning when the zombie activity had gone dormant.”
Huge mistake. Even armed, they’d never stood a chance. There’d been so many, coming in twos and threes then all at the same time.
Brian’s gaze held sad sympathy. “I’m very sorry for your losses.”
Emptiness. She couldn’t even be angry, not at the wolves or soldiers or anyone. Her logical mind was too practical and the replay of all they’d done to spite themselves kept her from laying blame on anyone else.
“We brought it on ourselves.” Tears welled up, burning her eyes. How could they have all been gone, just like that? But they were.
Danny’s arm tightened around her, comforting.
“Well.” Brian cleared his throat in the awkward silence. “Why don’t I go rouse the boys and send them to fetch some soup? They’ll be up for an errand and could do with a bit of a run. You’ll be needing some supper too, Danny?”
At first, Danny’s eyebrows drew together in a scowl and she thought he’d decline. But then his expression cleared and he sighed. “Protein would be good. A burger or whatever is easy for the lot of them to nip out of the pub at this hour would be fine. There’s a wolf on watch along their way.”
Brian smiled at them both and left the room, closing the door behind him.
“Where am I?” Let me get you someplace safer.
“At a clinic.” He stepped away finally, and her shoulders were cold without the reassuring press of his arm. “Think you can stay right there while I get you a change of clothes?”
“I think I can manage.” The edge she heard in her own words did wonders for her confidence. She was feeling more herself, even if her brain hadn’t quite caught up yet.
He lifted one corner of his mouth in a lopsided smile. “Just don’t fall off until I can get back to catch you.”
Her cheeks heated as he left the room. He’d carried her all the way here. Far? She had no idea. How long had she been out? And what the hell nonsense had she said?
She dropped her head and pressed her palm into her forehead.
“Here now, I was serious about the not falling off thing.” Danny let loose a few choice curses as he rushed back into the room, a wad of fabric in his hand.
That was fast. Must not have been a long way away.
“I’m fine.” And would rather fall off the damned stretcher than admit how embarrassed she was.
He paid her no mind and instead dropped his bundle onto the hospital bed next to her. He lifted her chin so he could peer into her eyes. Then he pulled an electronic thermometer from a nearby drawer and clamped the sensor around her index finger. “Once we get you changed into those, I’d like to take an ECG just to make sure all’s right with your heart.”
“We?” She cleared her throat. Tried again. “Excuse me, why do we need to get me changed? I am perfectly capable—”
“Let’s get you standing for now and take things easy why don’t we?”
She ground her teeth. Savior or no, there was a limit to the amount of patronizing she was going to take. “Why don’t you take a step outside the door. I’ll take my time about getting dressed and then we can talk about the ECG.”
“I’m staying and you’re going to let me help you.” His words pushed at her, distinct and demanding.
Dominance. She wondered if he even realized he was asserting it. Hopefully not. Oh, it had come in handy in the situation in the tunnel, but they weren’t there anymore. And she wasn’t some pup to roll over and give in on nothing but his say so.
“No.” She lifted her gaze to his and mustered all the willpower she had to keep from looking away. Moving slowly and deliberately, she swung her feet over the side and slid off the edge, reaching way down until she had solid footing. Why was the bed so freaking huge? Oh. Considering her rescuer, yeah, they treated werewolves here. Big ones. “I can stand. I can get dressed on my own.”
Those brown eyes darkened further, if it was even possible. He started to say something, stopped, and the muscles in one cheek twitched. “Compromise. If you want to dress on your own, fine, but I’ll not be leaving the room.”
“Wha—”
He held up a hand and she thought the corner of his mouth lifted. A little. Maybe. “I’ll stand over here and keep my eyes on the wall. You’ll have your privacy.” He tilted his head to one side. “Outside is too far for me to get back to you if you do have a problem. This way I can stay close enough to help, but you still get to do things on your own and maintain your...virtue.”
She narrowed her eyes. He was teasing her now. But it was better than the patronizing from earlier. “Agreed.”
He gave her a full smile then and her heart skipped. When he faced the wall, he presented her with a defined, muscular back. She gulped and this time her whole face warmed. Not that she hadn’t seen a man in various stages of undress before, but none of her lovers had been quite as physically fit. Then again, none of them had been shape-shifters either.
As she began to undress, she wrinkled her nose. She’d been too distracted to notice, but the fabric stank of decomposition and was stained with random fluids she’d rather not think about while it was next to her skin. She’d save the clothes though, to analyze later. They were the freshest samples she had access to.
Her hands shook as she stepped out of her pants. How would she collect them? And what would she store them in?
She really didn’t want to go back to their camp site to try to get the rest of their equipment. Definitely not alone. Not even in daylight. Would she find the bodies of her colleagues in the area? Or would they be walking dead in the coming nights?
“Alright, then?” Danny remained studying the wall, but his words were tinged with concern.
“Fine.” Her response had been too terse. Leaving her underwear on, she fumbled with the simple sweatpants and huge sweatshirt. Hell, she probably could have gone with only the shirt and been covered to her knees. “You can look now.”
He was at her side so fast, she hadn’t seen him move. He was simply there. All she could focus on was how very near he was, and how incredibly defined his torso and abs were. A rich, earthy musk filled her nose and she wanted to breathe deeper, nuzzle his sk
in and get more of his scent. The man needed to get a shirt on and she needed to come to her senses.
He lifted a hand and she watched as he reached for her. But all he did was move a strand of hair off her cheek, his fingertip brushing a hot line across her skin. “Let’s get some more water into you and hope Brian comes back with some hot tea.”
“Tea? We was told to get soup!” a tenor voice called through the closed door.
Danny chuckled. “Would you mind sitting again, before the puppy pack tumbles in?”
Sit? Yeah. Good idea.
He helped her back up onto the stretcher. She assumed because there weren’t any chairs in the room. Before he left her, he gave her ponytail a playful tug. Gah, her hair. She pulled the elastic free and quickly finger combed it back it into some semblance of order before tying it up again.
“Soup!” Once Danny opened the door, a gangly boy darted in holding up a brown paper bag. The boy’s bronze skin was the deepest tan she’d ever seen. And his ink black hair stood up in a shock of spikes as if he’d been hooked up to a Van der Graaf generator.
“Thanks, Ollie.” Danny plucked the bag from the boy’s hand.
“Oy, I heard Danny brought somebody back.” Another voice piped up from the doorway. Not one head popped into view but four, stacked one on top of the other as the boys all craned to get a look. They must have been piled on each other’s backs just outside the door.
“A lady-friend,” Ollie confirmed.
“Hi there.” Deanna gave them all a wave. A chorus of greetings returned to her and she couldn’t help but smile.
Danny let out a huff. “Deanna, these boys are Ollie, Dan, Dan, Dan and Dougie.”
She wouldn’t laugh. Nope. Not at all. “So there’s four Dans, right here?”
“He’s Danny.” The one boy with the mop of unruly brown hair indicated the adult werewolf with a thumb. “These are Peas, Goggles and Doc, so as no one gets confused.”
“Why...”
“Don’t ask.” Danny gave her a pained grimace and a minute shake of his head. “You really don’t want to think about it until after you’ve had your soup.”
All righty, then.
“I know, and I don’t want to think about it at all.” A big man stepped up behind the boys, taller than Danny and maybe a little more muscular. Still lean though, with dark hair and pale skin. He moved forward, making them scatter into the room as he filled the doorway. She remembered him, the London pack’s alpha. He nodded to Danny and then turned his attention to her. “Deanna, is it? It’s good to see you safe. I’m sorry for your losses.”
He sounded sincere, despite the clipped delivery. She was guessing he wasn’t a man prone to using his words more often than necessary. “Thank you.”
“What were ye doin’ out in the gardens, anyway?” The one known as Peas piped up. “Seems a bit daft.”
“I’m a scientist.” ’Course, she also wasn’t going to argue with the kid’s assessment either. All in hindsight, of course.
“Ye studying the zombies then? There’s some’ve tried it before.” Doc jerked his chin toward Danny and puffed out his young chest with pride. “Only person t’get good samples is our Danny. He and Seth went out and got them.”
Deanna nodded. “I studied some of them before coming here. My...my team and I were trying to isolate the nature of the virus that causes the infection. We were hoping to test a vaccine we’d developed.”
“Ye mean a shot, like with a needle?” Ollie shuddered. “Don’t hold with needles and things.”
Seth simply stood in the doorway, letting the boys do his interrogation for him. Deanna hadn’t missed the amused look on his face as he took it all in. She didn’t mind, really, but a part of her wanted him to know she was onto him. Irrational, but there it was. Still, it was easier to answer the boys, less of a strain.
“So how’s a virus make a person a zombie? Like catchin’ yer death o’ cold?” Goggles snorted.
Dougie pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. “I read in this novel, yeah, that a virus could be used as a carrier. Like it could be used to spread DNA into cells through the whole body, cause mutation. Turned the human heroine into a panther shape-shifter.”
Doc shrugged. “Kayden’s already a panther. Bet his blood carries that kind of virus. And the werewolves’d have the same kind of thing, only a little different.”
“Oy, that book was science fiction romance. Why’d you even read it?” Goggles snorted. “They’ll not be turning the zombies into big cats. Fat lot of good the idea will do anyone.”
“That’s not the point.” Dougie gave Goggles a shove. The other boy balled his hand into a fist.
“Actually—” Deanna pitched her voice loud enough to cut off the impending scuffle. “—you’re quite right, Dougie. We can use a virus as a vector to carry the genetic material we want to introduce into host cells so they begin producing certain proteins to defend themselves from other viruses. It’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”
“Dead things can’t catch a virus,” Seth cut in. “Shooting zombies up with a vaccine won’t cure them.”
“No.” She drew the word out to give herself time to think. “Not under natural circumstances.”
“What kind would you describe, then?” Seth crossed his arms. All the boys grew quiet.
There was a tension in the air, a silence stretching taut. Waiting. Children could be sensitive to those sorts of things, especially those who’d had it rough. She watched the boys, using their body language to gauge the sudden weight of the situation.
They didn’t move away from him, which would have made her suspect bad things about Seth and his temper. Werewolves were rumored to be violent creatures, full of uncontrollable rage. But she hadn’t seen that in Danny earlier. Rage yes. And violence. But not uncontrolled.
No. The boys just didn’t want to distract Seth. Wise of them, probably. When he was waiting like that, it didn’t seem like he’d be too happy with what he might hear next. And controlled or no, pissing off a werewolf couldn’t ever be a good idea. Too bad she wasn’t as smart as the boys.
“Zombies aren’t normal in any case. There’s a supernatural component animating them.”
“True. But then, shape-shifters aren’t what anyone would call normal either.” Seth scratched his chin. “Actually, there’s so many supernaturals in this city, I’m beginning to think normal doesn’t mean precisely what it used to mean.”
At least three of the Dans in the rooms snickered, including adult Danny.
“Maybe supernatural would be the wrong term to use.” Deanna shook her head. “Shape-shifters have an affinity with the natural world. Zombies are drastically different. Whatever animates them is a twisting of nature, the kind of manipulation only a witch—”
“Witchcraft isn’t the answer.” Seth bit out the words. Suddenly, he wasn’t just filling the doorway. His angry presence filled the entire room.
Every one of the boys paled. Their eyes grew wide.
“But...”
Seth lifted a lip and snarled.
Danny was suddenly by her side, not standing between her and his alpha but definitely interceding. “Alpha’s decision is pack law. There’s to be no witchcraft in London.”
Deanna couldn’t stop herself. She let her jaw hang open, incredulous. “How can you arbitrarily deny any help that might put an end to this epidemic?”
Seth rolled his shoulders. “You mean well, and because you do, I’ll explain. But listen, human, really listen. ’Tis not an academic debate. Witchcraft was attempted early in the epidemic. ’Twas a botch job.” He sliced his hand through the air in a downward motion. “All it did was turn back on the user, the way it always will, and innocent people died. It’s not reliable and it is not a viable solution. Any witchcraft within city limits will mean expulsion or elim
ination. No exceptions.”
The alpha decisively ended the discussion by leaving.
“That’s it? Easy as that?” Deanna couldn’t help sputtering.
Danny remained silent, staring after his alpha. Every muscle in his body was tense. Glancing down, she wondered if his fingernails were cutting into his palms. He was squeezing his fists so tight.
Deanna’s frustration bubbled up. Over? Oh hell no. She was on her feet and out to the hallway before anyone stopped her. “Hold up.”
Seth kept going.
She needed to think, quickly. Playing hardball wasn’t any good when you had nothing the other person wanted. He was the one in charge, and thus far all he’d asked for was respect...which he hadn’t been given. She tried a different tact before he got completely down the hallway.
“Please.”
He paused. When he faced her, one eyebrow was askance and he did not look entirely open to discussion. But it was better than nothing.
“Okay, no debate. I get that. But the research wasn’t my only reason for coming here. It wasn’t even the main reason why I needed to get here.” She tried to convey how important this was to her. ’Course, she’d compartmentalized it, tucked it away under the professionalism of her work. Needed to in order to make herself invaluable to her research team. But the protocol didn’t mean anything to this man and she needed to convince him to let her stay. And all she had was a few simple words. “I need to find someone.”
Those eyes, they weren’t cruel. Hard, yes, surrounded by fine lines of worry and the wear of tough decisions. But they saw what mattered. She met his gaze directly and poured everything she could into the connection.
“I need to find what’s left of my family.”
Seth sighed but his stance remained rigid, back straight, chin up. “You can stop to make an inquiry with the constable’s office on your way out of the city. The human police have records of what survivors—”
“She’s not a survivor.” Deanna breathed in through her nose and tried to relax her throat as it threatened to constrict around her words. He’d have no use for her tears. She needed to give him something more practical, actionable. “I would know if my sister was alive. Trust me. She’s not.”